The owner of a village shop has hit out at the council for its inconsistent approach to food hygiene after his firm was ordered to surrender hundreds of pounds worth of produce.

Family-run Crowhurst and Tomsett in Marden has used the same machinery to package meat for almost 20 years, and despite regular inspections has never been at fault.

However, following a visit by a Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) environmental health officer last Monday, the High Street store was ruled to be in breach of Food Standards Agency (FSA) regulations and summoned to court.

A council inspector told Maidstone Magistrates’ Court the shop’s use of a single vacuum-packing machine for cooked and raw meat risked contamination and was deemed dangerous by the FSA.

“This is a serious breach of food hygiene regulations. Cooked and raw food should be kept separate at all times. We took action to protect public health as soon as we were aware of the practice” — Maidstone Borough Council

She added she had been told by staff the machine, which packages raw bacon, as well as products like chorizo, was cleaned before use but even this is not enough to ensure good hygiene.

Appearing at the hearing, Charan Singh Athwal, who has run the business for nine-and-a-half-years, contested MBC’s application to destroy up to £500 of meat and get the shop to foot the bill.

Mr Athwal told the court the shop had been inspected on numerous occasions, including a visit as recently as August, yet the first time he had been informed the use of a single machine breached regulations was last week.

Magistrates acknowledged his argument, but ruled the shop, owned by Chitti Enterprises Ltd, was in breach of the Food Safety Act and ordered the destruction of all produce which has come in contact with the machine.

Speaking after the hearing Mr Atwhal said: “The shop is very popular in the village and has had a top hygiene rating for several years. I think the council’s approach has been inconsistent and incompetent.”

He added the shop has now ordered a new £1,600 machine.

A Maidstone council spokesman said: “This is a serious breach of food hygiene regulations. Cooked and raw food should be kept separate at all times.

“We took action to protect public health as soon as we were aware of the practice.”